Monday, December 2, 2013

Thought I would share my latest attempt at learning something new. Above is an early Victorian Pin-keep I purchased of off Ebay last year. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it and thought that I could justify this purchase by using this Pin-keep as a study tool.

I have displayed this piece here and there and I have looked at it many times wishing I could create something similar. Now I know a lot of you have created examples similar to this...but I have never in my life created anything so delicate and I humbly declare that my style of stitching is rather clumsy at best.

So I decided to create a piece that was more my style...a little rough and tumble looking and more on the folk art side of things.

This is what I came up with...an old style advertising pin-keep. I love animal themed advertising from days gone by and could just imagine them giving out these pin-keeps to the women of the day as a way to promote their products."Colburn's Philadelphia Mustard Company"In reality though they were just trade cards and not pin-keeps like I made...but heck...its fun to use your imagination to create one of kind objects for your own use and enjoyment...in that respect we women haven't changed all that much.

I made my pin-keep in layers Front
1. fabric photocopy of advertisement
2. a layer of felt
3. stiff cardboard

Back

1. wool fabric

2. cardboard

You can pretty much guess how it is put together by looking at the photos. It a fun project...takes some patience but isn't difficult to do.

If you want to make your own Bulldog pin-keep but aren't sure where to get the graphics just head on over to Catnip Studio...she has a huge variety of clip to choose from including the graphics for this Bulldog.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Hi Folks just wanted to let you know that I have to postpone my Christmas/Winter Etsy sale...life has been busy and I haven't been able to create as many pieces as I would like...and rather then rush through and create pieces in a hurry(((which I don't like to do)))I am instead going to have a sale early in the new year. I do apologize for this and hope that you will understand.

What have I been doing...I joined a wonderful Needlework group, I took a Rock Sculpture Class, a Coast Salish Berry Basket Weaving Class and I ordered a new super duper rug hooking frame and am excited about the possibility of joining a newly formed Rug Hooking Group. Stay Creative...Think Positive...Learn New Things

I will be posting photos of new pieces as I work on them...see you in the New Year

PS - Happy Thanks Giving to all my friends south of the Canadian border.

When it snows, ain't it thrilling,Though your nose gets a chillingWe'll frolic and play, the Eskimo way,Walking in a winter wonderland.

Monday, November 11, 2013

This little guy has been keeping me on my toes lately and I have been busy trying to keep him on his toes. We were playing on the beach about 6 months ago when I saw his knee go out for the first time and ever since then he has been having problems...turns out that both of Jasper's legs have Luxated Patellas which is to say that his kneecaps are out of alignment and his ligaments are not tight enough to hold the kneecaps in place. To make a long story short it was decided that he would visit the specialist veterinary hospital to get both of his legs fixed.

Now I have visions of Jasper running down the beach happy and full of life, carefree and content! It will be a bit of journey to get him to that point as he is not allowed any strenuous activity for the next few months...this should prove interesting as he is a veritable speed hound whose favorite activity is to run circles around you and anything else in his path.

Little Jasper has been a real trooper though and is healing fast and I am sure in no time he will be back to his usual happy-go-lucky self. Sweet doggy dreams of sandy sunny beaches...Susan

Saturday, November 2, 2013

I gave my first ever studio tour and talk in the middle of October...I played host to a group of mixed media needle-workers who live here on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia. I have to admit that I was a little nervous at first, but I soon overcame this as these women made me feel so comfortable and at ease.

Their visit took place close to Halloween so I decided to create bats in every stage of development...I sewed and sewed and finally I had a group that I could work with and talk about...bat parts, unpainted bats, finished bats, bats of all shapes and sizes.

I talked about what inspires me to create my art... below is one of the group members perusing my collection of 100 year old Beatrix Potter children's books. I also talked about how I got started and how long I've been creating my characters.

I had examples of my pieces sitting in my studio and throughout my home...books were piled here and there...books that have helped me grow as an artist. Techniques, supplies used, bits and bobs of information that I thought would be interesting and helpful.

We had so much fun and I felt so honored that these women would want to spend an afternoon hearing me chat about my work...

And last but not least...I couldn't let this lovely bunch go home without first treating them to some Pumpkin Pie and Mulled Apple Cider...a perfect finish to a perfect day!

Thank-you
ladies for coming to my home, thank-you for inviting me to join
your group...I happily accept and am looking forward to our monthly meetings and the opportunity to learn and grow together! & a big thank-you to Robyn :) for taking photos.

PS - I am busy, busy working on a group of Christmas and winter inspired pieces...progress photos to come soon.Cheerios,Susan

Sunday, October 20, 2013

You all played a part in making my
first ever Etsy sale a wonderful success. All four pieces found a home
in record time...I even had my first international sale as the
Bittersweet Bunny and Needle-Book are going to Australia.

I was a Nervous Nelly all day fretting about how this sale would turn out. I must have went in and tweaked my listings a dozen times. Also on my mind was how to price everything as I know how long it took to create them...especially the ones with the all the cross stitched details.

I truly believe that if I don't value my own work...then others won't value it either. So I priced my pieces accordingly and again my worries were unfounded, and the sale ended successfully.

I feel blessed in so many ways!

As a side note I will be working on a new group that will be all about Winter and Christmas...let the cold winds blow!

Thursday, October 3, 2013

I woke up early this morning...started a fire in the wood stove and read "Etsy for Dummies"(((because I'm kind of an Etsy dummy and need to educate myself)))...where was I...oh yea...I woke up early and after some light reading went up to my studio and put the finishing touches on Little Boo...he's a happy camper now that he got he's own pumpkin.

Little Boo will be joining the other Characters that will be available for adoption October 19th in my Etsy Store.

This will be my fist Etsy sale...I have purchased from there but have never listed anything in my store. I made the decision to do this to save me time and work. Now you won't have to wait for my reply email telling you whether or not you succeeded in acquiring a piece...and I won't have to spend so much time writing these replies and listings. Now you can just go to my store at the appointed time and simply pick the one you like and make a purchase...beautiful in it's simplicity. One last note...I will only be accepting payments by PayPal in my Etsy store.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

I've been a busy gal lately trying to get this group completed in time to have a fall sale...at my slow as molasses speed of working...fall will be over and winter will be upon us before I get everything finished.

Also in the works are some Halloween characters and more autumn themed pieces which I hope to complete soon. In the meantime you can preview these pieces..."Bittersweet Bunny Pincushion & Needle-Book", "Little Grey Mouse with Button's" and lastly my "Black Rose Bunny Pin-Keep."

This primitive style needle-book is a companion piece to my Bittersweet bunny...it has a cross stitched B & B monogram, a wool patch and an old pearl button.

Inside is a cream colored wool insert with pearl buttons, a couple of tapestry needles for your stitching needs and a sweet little reproduction antique needle-card tucked into the pocket.

Susan Pilotto is a mixed-media artist who specializes in creating one of a kind miniature animals from recycled wool felt fabric. Susan graduated from Vancouver's Capilano College with a Diploma in Studio Art.